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What Brings You Joy?

Writer's picture: Pat BirniePat Birnie

I had a few sessions with a therapist a few months ago. After a year of several very sad events involving family/loved ones I was really struggling. I decided to reach out and talk it out with someone who was detached from the situation(s) and could provide some tools and resources to help me cope. This is life isn't it? Sometimes life is very hard, and bad things happen to good people. And sometimes it seems the load is overwhelming. I had a few sessions, developed some great tools (journalling!) and have moved forward. At the end of my final session she asked me "what brings you joy?" Oddly I couldn't come up with an answer at the time - sorry, I'm not great at thinking on my feet! However since then, I am aware of & thinking about it - I have noted things that truly bring me joy. Only a few, because "joy" to me is powerful. There are a lot of things that make me happy, or bring me pleasure but true joy is reserved for a very special feeling!


The number one absolutely is time spent with grandchildren. Most grandparents out there will get this. I also love spending time with my kids & bonus kids, however our grandchildren ramp that joy up exponentially. The baby and toddler age is amazing but so are 10, 12 & 14 year olds! They are so interesting as they become little adults. Why is the grandparent/grandchild relationship so special? No doubt it's the fact that we have more time to revel in their long meandering conversations. I often lament how rushed I felt the for my kids' entire childhood; there were 4 of them and only one of me!


Another great joy for my entire life is reading. Oh how I love books!! I cannot recall a time when reading was not a high point in my day. There is absolutely nothing like getting lost in a really good book. It is such an escape, an opportunity to learn about this amazing world and a chance to stretch your limits to explore and accept new ideas.



There are however smaller things that can bring us little bursts of joy. These last couple of weeks, although the weather has cooled, have been so brilliantly sunny and bright - yes it's joyful to open the blinds to that! For me, walks or runs in nature give me so much pleasure. It doesn't have to be big things like travel and huge celebrations, but rather random occurrences in everyday life. I love to hear a woodpecker & get even more excited when I can spot that elusive bird! I am not a gardener but I sure do enjoy gorgeous gardens in our neighbourhood. How about all the little trails hidden away in a busy city? I have a couple close by and there is even a heron that I regularly catch as I wander through that quite little patch. Such a thrill!


I never tire of sunsets at the cottage!


The message is, that when we make a point to think about the little joys in life, we may notice small pleasures that otherwise just slip by. That awareness itself brings a little more joy into our everyday. I am very late releasing this blog - what a month it's been! So on Thanksgiving weekend, it's a perfect time to take a moment, slow down and be grateful for the little moments of joy that occur daily.

Pat xo


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busybeesuzblog
Oct 18, 2024

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to you Pat. I agree, the simple pleasures in life do bring us the greatest joys. For me, this is time spent with my children, spotting a lovely bird or even better and elusive butterfly. :) Surprising?

I pray that the dark and sad things that have been happeing in your family do lighten up and that you find some clarity within your heart.

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